BRAVA Nutrition

Cancer Defense: A New Way of Living with Nutrition and Nutraceuticals

Natural disease fighting tools for prevention, treatment and coping with cancer

To Purchase a Product or Service Contact:

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bravaecommerceservices@yahoo.com

Brava Nutrition Consulting Package includes intake and review of medical & psychological history; a written report with handouts;  books "Anti-Cancer: A New Way of Life" and "Foods that Fight Cancer;"  and 1 hour of consulting time via telephone, webcam or in person depending upon your locale.   Follow up consultations, speaking engagements and training seminars negotiated between the parties depending upon services agreed upon and  rendered.

Key Principles of the Cancer-Prevention Diet

By following important guidelines below, you will give your body its best chance of avoiding not just cancer, but a range of other chronic diseases as well:

1. Eat a “rainbow” assortment of fruits and vegetables.  By “rainbow” we mean selecting foods of different colors – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple, the darker color the better.

2. Reduce exposure to pesticides.

3. Reduce radon gas (major cause of lung cancer) in your home. www.epa.gov/radon

Radon is a cancer-causing natural radioactive gas generated from uranium in the soil that you can’t see, smell or taste.  Its presence in your home can pose a danger to your family's health.  Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.  Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in America and claims about 20,000 lives annually.  Learn how you can protect your family  Test Your Home for Radon - It's Easy and Inexpensive  Fix your home if you have a radon level of 4 pCi/L or more.

4. Reduce intake of meats and other animal foods. Eat fish, fish, and more fish.

5. Eat the right type of fats by increasing the intake of omega-3 fatty acids.

6. Avoid high-calorie, low-nutrient foods such as junk foods, candy, and soft drinks, fast foods hamburgers, etc.

7. Keep salt intake low, potassium intake high at a greater than 5 : 1 ratio (Apples 90:1, Bananas  440:1, Carrots 75:1, Oranges 260:1)

8. Choose foods that help your body detoxify and eliminate waste. See Rainbow and Anti-Cancer Phytochemical foods below.

It's easier to do 1 - 8 above than to battle cancer, battle your insurance company, and maintain your quality of life with cancer.

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 Vegetables and fruits contain anti-carcinogenic cocktail of ingredients that protect us against cancer. We refer to these as phytochemicals.  Some examples of anticancer phytochemicals:

 Examples of Anticancer Phytochemicals   (Phytochemicals as Nutraceuticals Explained)

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The Rainbow Assortment     (The World's Healthiest Foods Explained)

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Healthier Food Choices  (The World's Healthiest Foods Explained)

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Key Dietary Supplements for Preventing Cancer

High potency multi-vitamin and minerals that provides sufficient levels of antioxidant nutrients (carotenes, vitamins C and E, selenium, and zinc).

Vitamin C 250 – 1000 mg per day

Vitamin E   100 0 800 IU per day

 Selenium  100-200 mcg per day

 Carotenes, Flavonoidsd, Minerals

Folic Acid

Vitamin D

Herbal Extract Rich in Flavonoids

Consume Green Drinks Daily – Green Tea, Green Magma, Kyo-Green, Greens+, Barleans’ Greens, Pro Greens – all packed with phytochemicals especially carotenes and chlorophyll.

Probiotics – lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum.  These are available in powder, liquid, capsule, and tablet forms.

Fish Oil Supplements Omega 3 oils from fish

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Nutraceuticals Tools for

Preventing Lung, Breast, Prostate, and Colon Cancer, etc.

Lung Cancer Prevention

Lung cancer kills more Americans each year more than any other form of cancer.  The best way to prevent the disease?  Stop smoking.  If you do smoke, do everything you can to stop.  What causes lung cancer for those who do not smoke: (1) second hand smoke; (2) radon gas as 1 in 15 US homes has an unsafe level of radon gas (Visit EPA http://www.epa.gov/radon/) Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in America and claims about 20,000 lives annually.  (3) Asbestos.

Diet and Nutritional Supplements indicated above.

Higher intake of soy, green tea, fish oil, and lower intake of dairy products and red meat.

Curcumin with Bioprene® 200 – 400 mg daily

Flavonoids like quercetin, green tea, apples, white grapefruit, onions.

Fish Oils – Omega 3 with 120 to 360 mg of EPA and 80 to 240 of DHA daily plus minimum of two servings of cold water fish per week.

Selenium 100-200 mcg. Per day

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Breast Cancer Prevention

Diet is one of the critical factors in breast cancer.

Eliminate or decrease diet factors that increase your risk: meats, saturated fats, dairy products, refined sugar, and alcohol. 

The most important food to avoid:  meats grilled indoor or outdoor grills or broiled at high temperatures.

 Increase Diet factors that lower your risk: fish, whole grains, soy and other legumes, cabbage, vegetables, nuts, fruits, particularly the following:

Fish and Flaxseed Oil. The most important foods to eat: fish, flaxseed and flaxseed oil. (Do not cook with flaxseed oil as its polyunsaturated fats can be damaged by heat.  Discard after maximum of 3 months and replace with fresh supply.

Soy 25 to 100 mg isoflavones per day recommended from foods rather than dietary supplements of purified isoflavones.  Best choices are cooked soybeans, roasted soybean and soy nuts, tempeh, tofu, soymilk, soy protein.

Cabbage Family vegetables (cabbage  broccoli, cauliflower, kale) as these cruciferous vegetables contain anti-cancer phytochemicals known as glucosinolates.

Supplement with I3C 200 – 400 mg. daily as this is especially protective against breast and cervical cancers. It significantly increases the conversion of estrogen from cancer-producing forms to nontoxic breakdown products.

Probiotics – reduce the levels glucuronidase as this is associated with increased risk of cancer, especially estrogen dependent cancer.  Glucuronidase activity can be reduced by eating lots of plant foods, especially onion, garlic, applies, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, lettuce and with the friendly bacteria “Lactobaccillus acidophilus and Bifodobacterium bifidum.

Calcium d-glucarate Nutritional Supplements. Another method to reduce glucoronidase is with calcium d-glucarate with recommended daily dose of 200-400 mg; higher doses of 400 to 1200 mg may be necessary for individuals with existing breast cancer.

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Prostate Cancer Prevention

In men, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death due to cancer. (Lung cancer is the first). Each year approx. 300,000 men are diagnosed with the disease and approximately 30,000 will die from it.  Men who gradually lose their hair at the front and/or crown of the head, beginning in their mid-20s, are 50% more likely to develop prostate cancer.  Male Pattern Baldness is associated with a higher cancer risk.  It does not mean that balding men will definitely get prostate cancer, only that they are at increased risk.  Such men are advised to be more aggressive in following dietary and supplementation programs to reduce their risk of developing prostate cancer, which includes avoiding tobacco smoke and excessive intake of alcohol, while engaging in a regular exercise program.

Black men develop prostate cancer twice as frequently as white men.  National Cancer Institute studies link this to the higher consumption of foods high in animal fat.  Thus NCI concluded that reducing fat from animal sources in the diet could lead to substantially decreased incidence and mortality rates for prostate cancer, particularly among American blacks.

There is a convincing role of diet in prostate cancer that Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center suggests that prostate cancer may be considered a “nutritional disease.”  The prime suspects are:

High animal foods, particularly grilled and broiled meats, saturated fat, dairy products;

Low protective nutrients such as lycopene, selenium, vitamin E, soy isoflavonoids, dietary phytoestrogens, omega-3 fish oil, isothiacyanates from cabbage family vegetables.

Prostate Cancer Prevention Supplementation Support

Curcumin with Bioprene® 200-400 mg per day

Lycopene 30 mg per day

Soy isoflavones

Omega-3 fatty acids 120 to 360 EPA and 80-240 mg DHA per day

Flaxseed Oil 30 g of ground flaxseeds or 2 tablespoons of flaxseed oil

Vitamin E + Vitamin C + Selenium + Zinc – use natural mixed tocopherols that include both alpha- and gamma-tocopherol, not alpha-tocopherol alone.

Selenium – critically important in reducing prostate cancer risk.

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Colon Cancer Prevention

This is the number 3 cause of cancer deaths in the United States. American Cancer Society estimates that there will be  approx. 140,000  new cases of colon cancer each year, and that approx. 50,000 Americans will die from the disease.  Smokers have a 30-40 percent more likely to develop and die of colon cancer than non-smokers.  Also, dietary factors are thought to be the underlying cause of colon cancer in nearly 9 out of 10 cases (90%).  Bacteria in the gut also play a central role in colon cancer.   Thus, there must be sufficient quantities of health-promoting bacteria in the gut; the diet must be low to moderate in terms of meat consumption; and the diet must be sufficient in dietary fiber.

The most important protection against colon cancer is butyric acid (butyrate).  In test tube studies, butyrate stops growth of cancerous colon cells, promotes apoptosis, inhibits the effects of tumor promoters, and causes colon cancer cell lines to change back to normal cells.

Fiber – certain fibers are more effective than others.

Pectins from apple, citrus, guar gum, and other legume fibers are more effective than wheat fiber, corn fiber, or oat bran.  People consuming more than  two servings from fruits and vegetables found the risk of colon cancer reduced by 65%.  Even small changes in the diet have a dramatic effect.

Meat – the greater the consumption of mean, the greater the likelihood of colon cancer, particularly grilled or broiled at high heat.

Sugar – there’s a strong link between colon cancer and intake of simple carbohydrates such as sugar.  Cut it out of your diet.

Fish Oil – keep the ratio 1 : 1.  Those with higher ratio of 6 to 3 had a higher chance of developing colon cancer.

Additional supplementation support recommended for colon cancer prevention

Folic Acid  400 mcg per day

Calcium, Vitamin D, Antioxidant Supplements to Prevent Polyps

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The Super Eight: Fighting Cancer  Through Key Natural Products  ̶  all available at Brava Nutrition

There is no question that natural products offer significant protection against cancer.  Instead of targeting cancer cell destruction by toxic means alone, like chemotherapy agents, we are engaging the body’s own cancer-fighting mechanisms with eight cancer-fighting natural products -- all available at Brava Nutrition / Pure Caps

#1 Systemic Proteolytic Enzymes

#2 Curcumin with Bioprene®

#3 Quercetin

#4 M/R/S Mushroom Formula or Myco-Organic

#5 Indole-3-carbinol IC3

#6 IMM Formula

#7 Modified Citrus Pectin/HM Chelate

#8 IP-6 with Inositol

It is not necessary in most cases to take all eight. For example, most people will not need to take both curcumin and quercetin, or both Maitake MD or D fraction and PSK/PSP.

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#1 Proteolytic enzymes  Recommend Pure Caps Systemic Proteolytic Enzymes

Proteolytic enzymes ( proteases) refer to the various enzymes that digest (break down into smaller units) protein. 

These enzymes include with recommended dosage

1.     Pancreatin 300 – 900 mg 3 x/day

2.     Chymotrypsin   180 – 540 mg 3x/day

3.     Trypsin   3-9 mg 3x/day

4.     Bromelain (pineapple enzyme)  250-750 mg 3x/day

5.     Fungal proteases 15,000 – 45,000 USP 3x/day

6.     Papain (papaya enzyme) 50 – 150 mg 3x/day

7.     Serratia peptidase (the silkworm enzyme) 50-150 mg 3x/day

Pancreatic enzymes should not be used by anyone allergic to pork; bromelain should not be used by anyone allergic to pineapple; and papain should not be used by anyone sensitive to papaya.  None of these products should be used during pregnancy or lactation; and without the supervision by your MD physician.

Recommended Product: Pure Caps Systemic Proteolytic Enzymes

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#2 Curcumin with Bioprene®

Curcumin is the yellow pigment of turmeric, the chief ingredient in curry. In clinical studies it has demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. Evidence suggests that it causes  cancer to regress, i.e., to grow smaller.  Bioperine® is a black pepper extract that contains the alkaloid piperine. Research reveals that it has the potential to enhance the bioavailability of curcumin, promoting its absorption.   Curcumin with Bioprene is a powerful  NF-Kappa B antagonist.   The growth and spread of cancer cells relies upon NF Kappa B, a single proinflammatory factor secreted by the cancer tumor cells.  Curcumin with Bioprene has been shown to inhibit NF Kappa B, the "Black Knight" of cancer.  The whole pharmaceutical industry is looking for drugs to inhibit NF Kappa B, while the molecules known to act against it are already available in Curcumin with Bioprene, and in Resveratrol, and Green Tea.

·        Inhibits the formation of cancer-causing nitrosamines and NF Kappa B, the "Black Knight of Cancer"

·        Enhances the body’s production of cancer-fighting compounds such as glutathione

·        Promotes the liver’s proper detoxification of cancer-causing compounds

·        Prevents overproduction of cyclooxygenase 2 (cox-2), an enzyme that can contribute to the development of tumors

Experimental studies have found that curcumin fights tumors arising from prostate, breast, skin, colon, stomach, and liver cancers.

Recommended dosage: Curcumin with Bioprene® 200 – 400 mg one to three times per day.  

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#3 Quercetin

Quercetin is the most common flavonoid in the human diet.  Many flavonoids have been shown to inhibit tumor formation, but quercetin has consistently proved itself the most effective.  Quercetin does not attack tumors directly.  Instead it works by keeping cancer cells from dividing.  

Quercetin also works by inhibiting a family of enzymes known as tyrosine kinases. These proteins are located in or near the cell membrane. When activated, tyrosine kinases send powerful signals to the nucleus telling cancer cells it’s time to divide.

Drugs targeting tyrosine kinase activity (tyrophostins) are thought to represent a new approach to chemotherapy. They inhibit cancer growth, but they don’t actually kill cells (including healthy cells), they appear to be free of toxic effects. Quercetin was the first tyrosine kinase-inhibiting compound tested in a human trial. Quercetin appears to work in breast cancer by causing cancer cells to produce type II estrogen receptors (ER II), and then binds (attaches) to those receptors. By blocking ER II, quercetin stops growth signals from being generated, thereby keeping the cell from dividing. The more ER II the cell produces in response to quercetin, the more sites there are for quercetin to attach itself to, and the greater the degree of tumor suppression.

Quercetin has demonstrated significant anti-tumor activity against a wide range of cancers: breast, lung, skin, ovaries, colon, rectum, and brain, and it also enhances the effects of chemotherapy while reducing its side effects.

Recommended Products: Pure Caps, Designs for Health

 When to use Curcumin with Bioprene® or Quercetin (with Chemotherapy)

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#4 Maitake D-fraction and MD-fraction

Maitake mushrooms have demonstrated significant immune-enhancing compounds that stimulate white blood cells, known as macrophages, engulf foreign particles, including cancer cells, bacteria, and cellular debris.

Researchers have identified four primary mechanisms by which maitake fights cancer:

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·       By protecting healthy cells from becoming cancerous

·       By enhancing the immune system’s ability to seek out and destroy cancer cells

·       By helping the cell regain control of cell division and programmed cell death (apoptosis)

·       By helping to prevent the spreading (metastasis) of cancer

Preliminary studies have shown that maitake fractions inhibit the growth of tumors in the colon, lungs, stomach, liver, prostate, cervix, bladder, and brain; as well as inhibiting leukemia.

What is the proper dosage? The dosage of maitake extracts is based on the level of the D or MD fraction and is calculated based on body weight:

 .05 to 1.0 mg for every 2 pounds of body weight per day.  That translates to a dosage of approx. 35 to 70 mg of the D or MD fraction. For best results take 20 minutes before each meal on an empty stomach.

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#5 PSK/PSP

PSK is also known as Krestin.  PSP are closely related to protein bound polysaccharides from the cloud fungus mushroom.  As in D or MD fraction, the active components of PSK/PSP are beta-glucans that significantly enhance immune function.

It is not necessary to take both MD or D fraction and PSK/PSP.  Preliminary animal studies show that, like other immune enhancing compounds containing beta-glucans, PSK/PSP can inhibit the growth of virtually every type of tumor. And, clinical studies have shown that PSK/PSP enhances the positive effects of chemotherapy while reducing its side effects.

Recommended dosage:  1 – 3 grams per day

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#6 Polyerga

Polyerga is a highly purified extract of peptides (small proteins) obtained from the spleens of pigs.

Polyerga contains substances that bind to receptors on white blood cells. In response, the white cells release chemical messengers that stimulate other immune responses. Messages to the bone marrow, for example, trigger the production of more white cells – an important effect in the fight against cancer, particularly if a person is taking chemotherapy drugs that suppress white blood cell formation.

Many of the effects of Polyerga are thought to result from increased output of a protein called gamma-interferon. This chemical acts as a communications link between macrophages and lymphocytes. A low gamma-interferon level – a common problem among cancer patients – significantly impairs immune function.

Polyerga may also have other beneficial effects such as:

·       preventing some of the side effects of chemotherapy

·       enhancing the effectiveness of conventional chemotherapy and radiation treatment

·       preventing metastasis

·       enhancing the general sense of well-being, improving energy levels, and preventing weight loss

·       increasing both the quality of life, and the survival time of cancer patients

The best results for Polyerga were found with breast cancer, colon and other carcinomas.  In contrast, lung cancer and patients with metastases did not seem to respond well to Polyerga.

What is the proper dosage? 

Each Polyerga tablet contains 100 mg of polypeptides.

Persons who weigh less than 140 lbs should take one tablet three times per day.

For every additional 40 lbs of body weight, add an additional tablet.

 For example, a 220 pound person would take five (5) tablets daily at even intervals.

Polyerga has been used for 50 years and no adverse side effects have been reported.

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#7 Modified Citrus Pectin

Modified citrus pectin (MCP), also known as fractionated pectin, is a complex sugar (polysaccharide) obtained from the peel and pulp of citrus fruits. Modified citrus pectin is rich in short, nonbranched, galctose-rich carbohydrate chains. 

MCP appears to reduce the risk of metastasis – the spread of cancerous cells from one tumor to other sites in the body. For metastasis to occur, cancer cells must first clump together.  Protein molecules called galectins appear on the surface of cancer cells.  The more galectins present, the easier it is for the cancer cells to clump together and metastasize.  According to preliminary research, MCP binds to the galectins.  By doing so, it blocks cancer cell’s ability to clump and spread. Although MCP has no significant direct anticancer effect, we feel that it can be an important natural anticancer strategy.

Lab studies suggest that MCP is best used in preventing the metastasis of breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, and melanoma.

 What is the proper dosage?

The typical dosage recommended for adults range between 6 and 30 grams in divided doses, e.g. 6 grams one to five times daily.  The MCP powder is usually dissolved by blending in water or juice.

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#8 Ip6 (Inositol Hexaphosphate)  Recommend Pure Caps IP-6 with Inositol

Ip6 is found mainly in the fiber from whole grains and legumes. It might be better to take supplements containing purified Ip6 plus inositol.

Ip6 with inositol has been shown to be an effective antioxidant and immune function booster. The combination is especially helpful in stimulating the activity of white blood cells known as natural killer(NK) cells, so called because they literally kill cancer cells, viruses, and other infecting organisms.

Lab studies show that Ip6 with inositol exerts anti-cancer effects against virtually all types of cancer, including:  breast, prostate, lung, skin, and brain, as well as lymphomas and leukemia.

What is the proper dosage?

In patients who have cancer or who are at high risk for cancer, the recommended daily dose is 4800 to 7200 mg of Ip6 along with 1200 to 1800 mg of inositol.  To ensure the best absorption, Ip6 and inositol should be taken on an empty stomach. For cancer prevention, the dosage should be reduced by 50  of the above.  Ip6 is extremely safe even in high doses.  There are no reported negative effects on body weight, mineral content, or internal organs.   High doses have been given intravenously to humans without causing adverse effects.

Ip6 can be used in combination with conventional  cancer treatments, such as radiation and chemotherapy. In fact, Ip6 has been shown to enhance the effects of these therapies.

The “Super Eight” should not be used as “magic bullets” to fight cancer.  These supplements are best used in consultation with your MD physician in the context of a truly comprehensive approach to cancer prevention and treatment.

Contact Brava Nutrition & Psychology Counseling Center info@bravacorp.com for psychological counseling, nutrition counseling, lifestyle and diet modification,  and mind-body attitude, emotional and lifestyle adjustments – all positive measures for dealing with life and coping with the stress of cancer for you, your family, your friends, and your loved ones.

Vitamins and Minerals

The following recommendations provide an optimum intake range to guide you in selecting a high-quality multiple.  Note that vitamins and minerals are measured in IU = International Units, mg =milligrams, mcg = micrograms.  We recommend Pure Caps Ultra Nutrient Multivitamin & Minerals (advanced antioxidants & phytonutrients).